Lightweight futility?

[Ageless]

From my experience with resins; a foam core lay-up is very light and strong. By enclosing 1/2" styrofoam in cloth reinforced resin; a structure such as a frame could be very light. With the stub axles, you get away from spring weight.

Back in the early 60s; Ford made the Falcon which got close to 30mpg; part of that was the 'roller skate' tires they used. Putting radials on the car took away 5 mpg. So find tall skinny tires.

[dwgriff1]

One way or the other an incredibly light trailer could be built, but from what the engineers are telling me, it would not make a lot of difference.

I think they said that a light trailer and an incredible light one would provide negligible differences in fuel economy, that is, if they were the same size.

I pull with a small coupe and it is important to me to get as far as I can on a gallon of gas, hence the question.

dave

[KBS]

At some point, your incredibly light trailer will start to act like a kite in the wind. I don't know if that's at 300 or 100 pounds, but a heavier trailer will be more stable, all else being equal.

[Roly Nelson]

I have two teardrop trailers, one weighs about 550 lbs, is 8 ft long and pulls like a dream. However, as impressed as I am with my 8 footer, I must tell you that the little 1/4 Nelson, Stacker, which weighs a mear 245 lbs, is hardly noticeable, when under way. My experience is, the lighter, the better, however you might have to sacrifice some of the bells and whistles.

In the future, I intend to use the little one, rather than hauling the "big one", up and over the mountain passes that we have here in So Calif. Major problem, it only sleeps one, and there is little chance, that an adventuresome, 75 year old would be willing to join me to see some of nature's wonders, some time in the future.

Just tongue in cheek, after 56 years with my one-and-only, who is no longer with me, I'll plan to press on, enjoying my teardropping experiences solo and meeting new friends along the way.
Roly

[dwgriff1]

Roly

You would encourage the concept of a very light simple trailer?

Using the materials and techniques discussed, plus a box full that have not found favor, I think we have only begun the search for light.

The question that started this thread was simply if it is worth the trouble.

I am younger than you, but not by much, and I choose big projects carefully!

dave

[reo-ron]

Ok here's my 2 cents worth- I pull both my 600 lb tear and my 900 lb scamp with a 1941 Ford coupe. The scamp is taller,wider and heavier than the tear and provided the head wind conditions are the same my mileage is usually a couple MPG better with the tear than the Scamp. Both make a very noticeable difference from the "no trailer" MPG. Sooo is it weight or frontal area???? Answer; More frontal area than weight! How do I know you ask?? I also pull both trailers with a 1950 Suburban with comparable drive train and there is no noticeable difference in MPG pulling either trailer. The long roofed design moves the air over the trailers better and the trailers have basicly no effect on MPG over not pulling a trailer at all. The slopped back of the coupe allows the air to slam in the trailer front at 65-75 mph and causes the 5-8 MPG drop in economy. At least this is my observations and justification for the rebuild of the Surburban!!!!ha
Ron in Tulsa

[reo-ron]

PS If I ever get the surburban back together I'm gonna build a ultra light, single occupant tear to pull with the TDI bug my wife normally drives. Teardropping at 40MPG has got to be better the treadropping at 18 MPG

[vwbeamer]

Safety is something to think about also, and a lighter trailer will stop quicker.

A lighter trailer will save fuel when accelerating and climbing hills. True level ground steady speed fuel economy is largely a factor of wind drag.

I see a lot of trailers on here are over built, and to some it gives a feeling of security. To me it's poor engineering. The lighter trailer will save fuel, accelerate quicker and stop faster.

I think it's wise to make the trailer as light as possible. Most of the people saying wieght makes no difference have large TV, the smaller the TV, the more wieght matters, especially when accelerating and stopping.

[Cliffmeister2000]

I see a lot of trailers on here are over built, and to some it gives a feeling of security. To me it's poor engineering.

It may be poor engineering, but I'm not a structural engineer. I don't have the ability to dance on the edge of the sword. So, I over-built. It's a character flaw I can live with.

[doug hodder]

Cliff...I agree! Most of us are shade tree builders/ welders, woodworkers. Sometimes it depends on your budget and abilities and what is available for materials. I will have Andrew check out a frame design for me to make sure it's fine, but the rest is on me. I'd much rather have a trailer that has good street appeal and can haul what I want to take camping over a few miles/gallon. If my lack of education/skills/ability means it's overbuilt, so be it. I'm happy with it, does what I want. They are just little trailers, not a space craft and a lot of them are built out of Home Depot!

[dwgriff1]

I respectfully suggest that we are no where near that edge of underbuilding. My build is certainly the most controversal and is among the lightest. It has survived a lot of really rough traveling over really bad punishing roads.

Yes it shows wear and tear, but it is repairable and it did not lead to anything near a breakdown.

Memory is that only one trailer had a break in the tong (the most vulnerable spot on one of these critters).

A Piper Cub (minus the engine) weighs less than a typical teardrop, and it is designed for far rougher treatment than we give.

VWbeamer suggested that a lighter trailer stops easier. I agree, and lighter takes less of everything to make it work better.

Didn't Andrew recently design a trailer that would weigh 265 pounds?

dave

[angib]

Didn't Andrew recently design a trailer that would weigh 265 pounds?

281 pounds is the latest estimate. I will publish full plans this week (I must stop making promises like that...) - just the text left to write.

Andrew

[daddiozz]

My PVC TTT is extremely lightweight ,trailer weight plus PVC framework and walls was just at 325 lbs ,my average all up tow weight a hair under 400 lbs .towing with my 4 cyl KIA Sportage I saw very little mpg loss from driving without the trailer ..pulling the trailer was a non-event ,I had to keep looking back to assure myself I was actually pulling something..

[Fenlason]

Dave why don't you just test drive your TV.. with weight in it.. the weight of your current trailer, compared it to the weight you would like to build. ???

you could easily tell how much if any difference it will make for you.


With some vehicles additional weight would makes a difference, for others not so much.

I was earlier talking to Chris about lightweight builds, in another thread. There are some great lightweight skin boats out there.

[teardrop_focus]

I was earlier talking to Chris about lightweight builds, in another thread. There are some great lightweight skin boats out there.

I still think a vintage aircraft-style, fabric-and-dope teardrop would be neat.